Well attestedNamed from the place
in more shit than a Werribee duck
adjective · first attested 20th century
Melbourne's sewage has gone to Werribee since 1897, and so have the birds.
Australian slang for being in serious trouble.
Record
- Relationship
- Named from the place
- Confidence
- Well attestedThe place link is the standard scholarly account.
- Attested
- 20th century
- Part of speech
- adjective
Explanations here are written for this atlas. Dictionary text is not copied; the sources are linked so the claim can be checked.
- Step 1
Werribee
- In English
in more shit than a Werribee duck
The Western Treatment Plant at Werribee, long known simply as the Werribee Farm, has processed Melbourne's sewage across lagoons and grazing paddocks since 1897. Waterbirds settled on the lagoons in enormous numbers, which is the whole content of the phrase. The site is now protected under the Ramsar convention and is one of Australia's best known birdwatching grounds.
Australia
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